Favorite Albums of 2016
Lots of great music was released in 2016, so much so it was hard to decide what made the list. This year, I also included a list of my favorites ranked 11-20. Favorite
Brendan Hilliard
The Chicago Cubs Won the World Series
The Chicago Cubs won the World Series. I have been repeating this to myself since Wednesday just to make sure it’s real. It can’t possibly be. But it is. They went
Mourning View
Earlier this week, Morning View by Incubus turned fifteen. While it may not have aged as well as some, it very much played a part in my musical development and remains one of
John K. Samson's "Winter Wheat" is Part Postscript, New Beginning
I dont claim to know the entire Weakerthans catalog, or really know much about John K. Samson, but I can tell you that the release of “Winter Wheat” is an album that hews
The Wild Heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPEhIoKeTg0 This video has been making the rounds lately in large part is that it is an uncredited sample found on “10 d E A T h
Every Song Was Right: 10 Years of "Boys and Girls in America"
Today marks the tenth anniversary of Boys and Girls in America by The Hold Steady. Even the casual acquaintance has heard me stump for this album pretty much any occasion I get. But
Bon Iver's '22, A Million' is Fascinating Transformation
Today, Bon Iver releases their third album and first in five years, “22, A Million”. Justin Vernon started the project in 2007 pretty much as a guy with an acoustic guitar,
Amanda Shires's 'Land' Is Her Best Record Yet
Amanda Shires has been an excellent solo musician in her own right for years, a fact that’s been partially obscured by the runaway success of her husband, singer-songwriter, Jason Isbell. While that
Lydia Loveless Keeps it Close on "Real"
I saw Lydia Loveless play a street fest this summer and I was wowed by her presence and power. She’s a complete force of nature, synthesizing sorta-country with sorta-punk but maintaining an
"Holy Ghost" Showcases Modern Baseball's Growth
Modern Baseball is a great band, but they’re not even as good as they’re going to be. I saw the Philly-based group recently play a show at Empty Bottle
Seasons
The only album released in Arthur Russell’s lifetime, 1986’s “World of Echo”, is a staggering, ethereal masterpiece. It’s a look at a wildly underrated artist, almost unknown during the time
On Pablo, Kanye’s State is Cause for Concern
Kanye West – “The Life of Pablo” Kanye West has proven peerless in the hip-hop world. No one can quite do what he can in terms of his creative process. Take